For some time now, we had been planning to have Simba Raspicuim neutered, because he had already gone into heat and was marking his territory everywhere. There was nowhere he didn't go and leave his urine as a sign that “I'm here.” We looked into several alternatives, as the cost of this surgical procedure was no less than $50 minimum, and our budget was limited by other expenses at home. We also had to take into account his recovery and post-operative medication, so according to my calculations, it would be more than that amount...

A neighbor who loves cats gave me a very good option close to home. It turns out that a veterinary center had been set up, where an association of community veterinarians works, offering consultations and sterilizations at affordable prices. I went to inquire right away, but when I went, about a month and a half ago, they weren't performing sterilizations because they couldn't get the anesthesia for these procedures. Since they are a community association, they apparently get more affordable prices, so we decided to wait until they were supplied with this medication.

I kept in touch by phone, and last week they told me that everything was ready, so I took Raspicuim to his preoperative consultation, they examined him, opened his file, and gave me an appointment for July 2 at the first opportunity. We arrived there very early that day, and those scheduled for surgery were already there. When it was his turn, we handed him over so they could prepare him for surgery. That was around 9 a.m., and they told us we could pick him up at noon. Feeling very nervous, my daughter and I went for a walk in a nearby park to distract ourselves while Raspicuim was undergoing surgery.

When we arrived at the appointed time, he was ready and they handed him over to us awake, but still under the effects of the anesthesia. They immediately proceeded to give us his prescription, with the medications and instructions for his care and subsequent recovery. Raspicuim came out with his pupils well dilated. We decided that my daughter would go home with him and I would go buy the medications. I must say that we spent more on the medications than on the surgery itself, which was $10, and I spent about $27 on the medications, for a total of $37.

I think it was all quite supportive. The only thing we didn't buy was the Elizabethan collar, because we proceeded to make one for him. At first, when we arrived, my daughter made him a doughnut to support his head. Then we put the Elizabethan collar on him, as it was easier for him to wear. That's what we observed. He has been recovering little by little, although he was quite restless at night and kept us awake, because my husband didn't want to leave him in a basket we had prepared for him to rest in, as we don't have a kennel yet.

So he slept with him, and since he is his favorite human, he let himself be pampered. The next day he was more active, he ate, drank a little; he has already gotten back into his routine, he is much better, and now in 10 days we have to take him to the vet to have his stitches removed and for a checkup. We are very happy because we are out of this process now, hoping that our beloved Raspicuim will be better, although, as you can see, they didn't take away his wishes, ha ha ha. Here's a photo as proof, with him and his beloved stuffed animal, ha ha ha. Greetings, friends!

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Desde hace un tiempo, en casa estábamos pendientes de esterilizar a Simba Raspicuim, porque ya había entrado en celo y andaba marcando territorio por todos lados. No había lugar donde no fuera y dejara su orina como muestra, de "que por aquí pase yo". Buscamos varias alternativas, pues el costo para esta intervención quirúrgica no bajaba de los 50 $ mínimo y nuestro presupuesto, estaba limitado por otros gastos en casa, aparte de que había que tomar en cuenta también, su recuperación y los medicamentos postoperatorios, así es que según mis cálculos, sería más de ese monto...

Una vecina, amante de los gatos, me dio una muy buena opción y cerca de casa; resulta que habían puesto un centro veterinario, donde trabaja una asociación de veterinarios comunitarios donde ofrecen consultas y esterilizaciones a precios solidarios. De una vez me acerque a preguntar y para cuando fui, hace como un mes y medio atrás, no estaban realizando esterilizaciones, pues no conseguían la anestesia para estas intervenciones, ya que a ellos por ser una asociación comunitaria, al parecer le dan precios más accesibles, así que decimos esperar, hasta que los abastecieran de este medicamento.

Estuve pendiente por teléfono y la semana pasada me avisaron que estaba todo listo, de manera que, de una vez llevé a Raspicuim a su consulta preoperatoria, lo examinaron, le abrieron su historia y me dieron fecha para el 2 de julio a primera hora. Ese día estuvimos allí bien temprano, ya estaban los citados del día para intervenciones quirúrgicas. Llego su turno y lo entregamos para que lo prepararan para su proceso quirúrgico; eso fue como a las 9 a. m., nos dieron hora de retirarlo para las 12 del mediodía. Con todos los nervios del momento, mi hija y yo salimos a caminar un rato a un parque cercano para distraernos mientras intervenían a Raspicuim.

Al llegar a la hora, ya estaba listo y nos lo entregaron despierto, pero bajo los efectos de la anestesia todavía. De una vez procedieron a darnos su récipe, con los medicamentos e indicaciones para sus cuidados y posterior recuperación. Raspicuim salió con sus pupilas bien dilatadas. Decidimos que mi hija se iría con él a casa y yo iría a comprar los medicamentos; debo decir que gastamos más en los medicamentos que en la propia intervención quirúrgica que fueron 10 $ y en las medicinas gasté como 27 $, en total se gastó 37 $.

Considero que estuvo bastante solidario todo. Lo único que no compramos fue el collar isabelino, porque procedimos a hacérselo. En un inicio, recién llegando, mi hija le hizo una dona para que le sostuviera la cabeza. Luego le colocamos el collar isabelino, pues era como más fácil de llevar para él. Eso observamos. Poco a poco se ha ido recuperando, aunque en la noche estuvo bastante inquieto y nos desveló bastante, porque mi esposo no quiso dejarlo en una cesta que teníamos acondicionada para su descanso, pues no tenemos aún un kener.

Así que lo acostó con él y, como es su humano preferido, se dejó consentir. Al día siguiente ya estaba más activo, comió, bebió un poco; ya ha ido agarrando sus rutinas, ya está mucho mejor, ahora dentro de 10 días tenemos que llevarlo a consulta para que le quiten los puntos y para su revisión. Estamos muy contentos, porque ya salimos de este proceso, esperando que nuestro amado Raspicuim, esté mejor, aunque, como podrán ver sus deseos, no se los quitaron, ja, ja, ja. Aquí les dejo una foto como prueba, con él y su peluche del amor, ja, ja, ja. ¡Saludos, amigos!